Illuminated amusement apparatus



May 19, 1970 D. N. GESSIN ILLUMINATED AMUSEMENI APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1966 Doe/s Na GESS/A/ JNVENTOR.

May-19, 1970 D. N. GESSIN ILLUMINATED AMUSEMENT APPARATUS v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1966 INVENTOR.

United States Patent M 3,512,782 ILLUMINATED AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Doris N. Gessin, Los Angeles County, Calif. (7185 C Estrella Demar. Carlsbad, Calif. 92008) Filed June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 558,476 Int. Cl. A63b 71/06 U.S. Cl. 273142 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to amusement devices of the gaming or chance type and more particularly to a novel hand held device having powered chance determining means carrying related indicia thereon and illuminating means for displaying particular indicia as selected by the chance determining means from the related indicia.

In the amusement field, there has been a need for a simple device of chance that may be utilized by one or more players which not only includes a chance determining means but includes an illuminated display of selected indicia. Furthermore, most games of chance do not in-.

corporate a memory or means for registering the selected indicia so that a continuous score may be maintained by which the final outcome of the game may be determined so as to recognize one of the players as being the winner. Another problem encountered with conventional gaming devices resides in the inability of the device to elfect desired changes of the indicia displayed thereon so that the scope and variety of the games which may be played by using the device are very limited.

The apparatus of the present invention obviates the problems and difiiculties with conventional amusement devices by providing a chance determining means in the form of a powered rotatable disc carrying a plurality of related indicia thereon arranged to travel in a circular path beneath an apertured cap member. In a preferred embodiment, the disc is selectively actuated to rotate by depression of a simple finger control lever that not only energizes an electric motor operable to rotate the disc but effects a mechanical release of the disc to enable rotation thereof. Upon release of the control lever, the disc will be positively stopped from rotation and particular indicia derived from said plurality will be registered with the aperture in the cap member. The particular indicia will, of course, have been selected by the exigencies of chance.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for selectively illuminating the particular indicia so that such indicia is clearly visible and distinguishable from the other indicia of the plurality. A separate finger control lever is provided for activating the illuminating means so that illuminated display of the particular indicia will occur as when the disc is stopped. The illuminating means is indexed to a scoring arrangement whereby a continuous score may be recorded by the players and the score at any point in time may be displayed when the illumination control lever is depressed.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel amustment device having chance determining means for selecting a particular indicia from a plurality and including means for illuminating the particular indicia for visible display thereof to the players of the game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amusement device of the chance type including chance determining means that is powered so as to be selectively started and stopped whereby a particular indicia of the plurality is chosen by chance and including illuminating means for visually displaying the particular indicia of the plurality in a time sequence when the chance determining means has been stopped.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amusement device of the chance type for choosing a particular indicia from a plurality of related indicia so that the particular indicia is illuminated for visual display and that includes a memory or record means whereby scoring may be maintained such that the score will be illuminated for visual display.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device of the chance type having a chance determining means for displaying related indicia whereby the indicia may be changed as desired so that a variety of gamming situations can be employed whereby a variety of games and the scope thereof can be accommodated.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel illuminated amusement apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus, partially broken away, illustrating numeral indicia sequentially visible via a window aperture formed therein;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus as taken in the direction of arrows 44 of FIG. 2 illustrating the switch contacts for alternately operating the illuminating means and the chance determining means from the power source;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus as taken in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG. 2 illustrating the battery cell employed as the power source;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus as taken in the direction of arrows 66 in FIG. 2, illustrating the switch contacts and means for stopping the indicia disc;-

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the disc stopping means as taken in the direction of arrows 77 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of the electrical circuit employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the novel illuminated amusement device of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and comprises, in general, a cylindrical body portion 11 separating a display head '12 carried on one end of the body 11 from a storage means 13 carried on the other end of the body portion 11. The body portion 11 is adapted to be held in the hand of a player during the play of a game. The display head '12 includes a cap 14 of preferably opaque composition having an end member 15 in which is formed a window or aperture 16 through which a variety of particular characters of indicia may be viewed externally of the display head signifying the results of a players turn at using the device. The display head also includes a memory or record means which may be employed for scoring purposes that preferably includes a pair of annular rotatably slidable bands 17 and 18. Each band has suitably marked thereon a plurality of equally spaced apart lines, such as line 20 arranged so that the lines on each of the bands oppose one another at the adjacent edges of the respective bands. The lines 20 are related to indicia such as numeral 1 referenced by numeral 21 so that the particular line carries a value indication.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the device 10 shows that the body portion 11 is detachably connected to the display head 12 via a flanged and slotted arrangement 22, which may be of the bayonet type, that detachably couples the end of the body portion 11 with a base 23 of the head 12. The base 23 incorporates a shoulder 24 for mounting a support plate 25 thereon that suitably mounts a conventional DC electric motor 26, a light means 27 and a switch contact means 28 for selectively energizing the motor and light means.

Seated about the peripheral edge of the supporting plate 25, within the side walls of the base 23, is the removable cap 14 which is detachably connected to the base via a bayonet type connector arrangement at 30. The terminating end 15 of the cap 14 is sufficiently spaced apart from the support plate 25 so as to permit a chance determining means, such as is indicated in the direction of arrow 31, to be located therein so that a portion of the means extends beneath the window 16 formed in the end member 15. In general, the chance determining means 31 includes a movable disc 32 of light transmitting composition mounted for rotation by the motor 26 via a drive shaft 33. The outwardly projecting end of the drive shaft 33 is coupled to the disc 32 by means of collar bosses 34 and 35 on the disc which frictionally engage the drive shaft 33. Longitudinally projecting from the face of the disc 32 nearest to the motor 26, there is an annular stop means comprising a plurality of segments 36 arranged in fixed annularly spaced arrangement so as to provide a space or slot 37 between the adjacent ends of each segment 36. The disc 32 is restricted from rotation when the terminating end of a stop lever 38 is selectively or chancedly interposed within one of the slots 37 between segments 36. The upper side of the disc, opposite to its side carrying the segments 36, is provided with suitable opaque indicia such as may be provided and carried on a translucent or transparent disc 40, or, conversely, by translucent or transparent indicia on an opaque disc 40, as further explained later in connection with FIG. 3. The disc 40 is removably mounted on the disc 32 so as to rotate therewith and is preferably provided with a center hole for frictional or keyed registration engagement with the collar 34.

The body portion 11 is employed to house a conventional dry-cell battery 41 that is employed for supplying energy for operation of the motor 26 and illumination means 27 The battery 41 is retained by means of a spring clip 42 that projects into the interior of the body portion 11 from a suitable mounting on the base 23. The cantilevered end of the spring clip 42 is preformed so as to engage with one electrode of the battery whereby the other electrode of the battery is forced into engagement with a resilient fixed contact 44. Once the battery has been so mounted, a complete electrical circuit is provided for operating the chance determining means 31 and the illumination means 27.

The storage means 13 carried on the rear end of the body portion 11 comprises an annular side wall 45 having a bottom 46 so that a storage area 47 is provided for storing a plurality of diiferent character or indicia discs, as represented at reference numerals 48 and 50, respectively. The stored discs 48 and 50 are of the same configuration and composition as the discs 40; however, it is intended that the nomenclature, characters or indicia on the respective discs be different so that a variety of game situations can be derived by substituting and changing the discs according to particular rules of play. Thus, a wide variety of games can be played and the scope of these games may be greatly increased. T o maintain the indicia discs within the storage area 47 when not in use, a closure member 51 is employed which is of slightly reduced diameter so that an interference type fit ensues between the peripheral wall of the closure member 51 and the side wall 45.

It is to be particularly noted, as in FIG. 2, that the stop lever 38 is secured to one end of a finger lever 52 so that rotation thereof takes place about a pivot pin 53. The finger lever 52 projects exteriorally of the display head 12 through an aperture 54 formed in the base 23 and projects through a hole or slot 55 provided in the plate 25. The end of the lever 38 which joins with the finger lever 52 includes a dog 56 which effects the closure of motor switch contacts 57 as the finger lever 52 rotates about its pivot pin 53. Thus, it can be seen that, by rotating the finger lever 52 such as by the thumb of the players hand, the terminating end of the lever 38 will pivot outwardly out of its engagement in a slot 37 to free or unlock the disc 32 and, simultaneously, the dog 56 will effect the closure of the motor electrical contacts 57 to energize the motor 26 for rotation of the disc 32.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an aperture 58 located in the annular side wall of the cap 14 which is in registration with illumination means 27. The aperture 58 is disposed behind the annular bands 17 and 18 carrying the scoring indicia. Therefore, when the illumination means 27 is energized, only the portions of the bands 17 and 18 disposed over the aperture 58 will be made visible for viewing by the players.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the character or indicia disc 40 is shown as having a plurality of numerals displayed thereon, such as indicated at reference numeral 59. The plurality of numerals are arranged in a circular path so as to sequentially pass beneath the window 16 formed in the end member 15 of the display head. The end member 15 hides the indicia 59 from the players View except for whatever particular indicia appears through the window 16. Furthermore, even though a particular indicia appears in window 16, such particular indicia will not be clearly visible until the illumination means 27 has been activated whereby the particular indicia in the window 16 will become clearly visible.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the clip means 42 including the preformed end 43 thereof is more clearly shown for holding and retaining the battery cell 41 in position within tre body portion 11. Also, the pin and slot arrangement 22 for detachably coupling the body portion 11 to the base 23 of the display head 12 is clearly illustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the switch contact means 28 is illustrated which not only shows the motor switch contacts 57 but illustrates similar finger lever actuated switch contacts 60 operable to energize the illumination means 27. For this purpose, a second pivoted finger lever 61 is shown which is operated independently of the motor lever 52.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a schematic drawing is shown illustrating the electrical circuit by which the finger levers 52 and 61 may be employed in conjunction with the switch contact means 28 for supplying operating power from battery 41 to the motor 26 and/or the illuminating means 27.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the amusement device 10 may be held in the hand of a player grasped about body section 11 in a position so that the display head can be viewed by the player and so that the finger levers 52 and 61 are in close proximity to the players thumb. The player initially depresses finger lever 52 which causes the lever arm 38 to unlock with the slot 37 to free the disc 32 for rotation. Simultaneously, motor switch contacts 57 are closed so that the motor 26 is energized to effect disc 32 rotation. The player may maintain the finger lever 52 depressed for any desired period of time during which the indicia 58 on disc 40 continue to sequentially pass beneath the window 16 at a rapid rate which may be so fast as to render the indicia individually indistinguishable or slow enough to give a cinematic effect, the latter operation being accompanied by actuation of the illumination means 27. When the player releases finger lever 52, the terminating end of lever arm 38 pivots due to the resilient action of the swicth contacts so that the lever locks with one of the slots 37 to terminate rota tion of the disc 32, as best seen in FIG. 7. The slots 37 are cooperatively located with respect to the indicia displayed on disc 40 so that, when disc 32 is locked from rotation and the power thereto removed, a particular in dicia of the plurality will be exposed through the Window 16.

At this time, the player may depress finger lever 61 which causes the closure of switch contacts 60 which, in turn, energizes the illuminating means 27. When the illuminating means 27 has been energized, the particular indicia exposed through the window 16 will be made plainly visible to the player. Also, the players score may be maintained on one of the bands 17 or 18 and the partic-. ular score may be easily read when the illuminating means 27 has been energized since the score will be located over the aperture 63. As the game progresses, the bands 17 and 18 may be readily rotated about the display head to indicate a players progress according to the rules of the game.

The amusement device of the present invention has been found to be of considerable interest and entertainment to persons of all ages and the simplicity of operation is such that both children and adults can manipulate the finger levers. In some instances, it is desirable to use indicia on the disc 40 which may readily display numbers; however, for childrens games it may be desirable to employ other discs such as disc 48 which may be marked to indicate animals or letters or sequential movement scenes.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A manually portable amusement device of the chance type comprising:

a body portion adapted to be held in the hand of the user;

power means carried in said body portion;

chance determining means rotatably carried on said body portion operably coupled to said power means and having a plurality of related indicia carried thereon;

display means including an illuminating means located adjacent a portion of said chance determining means for displaying particular indicia selected from said related indicia;

manually operated control means detachably coupled to said power means, said chance determining means, and said illuminating means for causing said chance determining means to be rotated, indexed, and particular indicia thereon displayed;

said control means including a first switch means having a set of electrical contacts operable to connect said power means to said chance determining means and a second switch means having a set of electrical contacts operable to connect said power means to said illuminating means for energizing said illuminating means;

finger operated lever means pivotally carried on said body portion operable to selectively close said sets of electrical contacts to power said chance determining means and to activate said illuminating means; and

said chance determining means including a plurality of slots formed therein wherein said first switch means causes indexing of said chance determining means by interposing a component thereof within a selected one of said slots while in one position and activating said power means in its other position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said chance determining means includes a disc composed of light transmitting composition and said related indicia are composed of opaque markings.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said display means includes a head detachably carried on one end of said body portion and is formed with a window therein in registration with said illuminating means.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 including means slidably disposed about the periphery of said display head adapted to keep score of said particular indicia.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said display head includes an aperture formed through the side wall thereof and disposed between said illuminating means and said scoring means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said related indicia are carried on a translucent disc removably mountable on said rotatable disc.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 including a storage means carried on the end of said body portiton opposite to its end carrying said display head adapted to removably store a plurality of indicia discs.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said power means includes an electrical motor and a battery cell that is releasably mounted in said body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,644 3/1951 Benton et al.

2,090,086 8/1937 Weiner.

1,646,973 10/1927 Moore 273--142 1,741,903 12/1929 Amend 273-142.2 1,970,586 8/1934 Wahlberg 273l42 2,069,304 2/1937 Fischer 273l42.1 2,077,369 4/1937 Karp 273-l42.1 X 2,166,335 7/1939 Banner 273-142 2,233,134 2/1941 Kessler 273142.1 2,334,440 11/1943 Ragan 273-1428 2,457,280 12/1948 Seaman 273142.1 X

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner 

